Cardinal urges Venezuelans to vote despite threats

Venezuela, 7 December 2013: Describing voting as a “serious moral obligation,” Venezuela’s leading prelate urged the nation’s citizens to vote in the December 8 municipal elections despite pressures not to do so.

“We recall once again that the vote is secret,” Cardinal Jorge Urosa Savino said in a statement, adding “we reject undue threats. Free vote is a right that we should exercise with courage, determination, and according to our conscience.”

In a reference to the nation’s ruling socialist party, Cardinal Urosa added that “opportunism should absolutely be avoided, in particular regarding the use of state resources to promote the victory of one party.”

He concluded by inviting the faithful to “pray intensely to Jesus Christ, the Lord of history, for the good and future of the country. We entrust our beloved country to the maternal intercession of Mary most holy, Our Lady of Coromoto, Patroness of Venezuela. Source: CWN